CBI opts out of Payal murder investigation

BANGALORE: The CBI filed an affidavit in the Karnataka HC on Thursday stating that it cannot continue investigation into the sensational murder case of IT employee Payal Surekha, as it has many other cases to pursue.After examining the affidavit filed by the CBI, Justice Anand directed ACP Jithendranath to investigate the case under the supervision of DCP (Crime) and adjourned the matter for further hearing.Case BackgroundAn employee with Dell and a native of Assam, Payal, 29, was found murdered in her apartment in J P Nagar on December 17, 2010, with several stab wounds on her throat and other parts.The police at first suspected her husband Anand Narayan Mishra’s hand in the murder; however, subsequent investigations revealed Mishra’s business partner James Kumar Roy to be the murderer, leading to his arrest. However, Payal’s father Dindayal Sureka alleged Mishra was also involved in the murder and filed a petition before the court expressing dissatisfaction at the investigation of the local police in the case. He claimed that Mishra and his parents had conspired to kill his daughter.